Clutch-operating mechanism



. Feb. 9 1926.

F". BURKE 1 CLUTCH OPERATING MECHANISM Filed May 5, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

fa /Z ATTORNEYJ Feb. 9 192.6.

1,572,226 P. BURKE CLUTCH OPERATING MECHANISM Filed May 5, 1924 3 Shets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

q ATTORNEYS F. BURKE CLUTCH OPERATING MECHANISM Filad May 5, 1924' S Sheets-Sheet 5 AT ORNEY;

Patents! Feb. 1926.

UNITED-"SATES-PATENT orricl rsor. noun, or onsn'n' BAY, Wisconsin, ssrenon ro nonrnwnsr EN nonsense comm, OF GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISGOl'l'i-Lliflill CL'UTCH-OPERATING MECHANISM;

lication filed. ma 5,1924. Serial 1%. 711,144.

To all whom it concern: Be it known that I, PAUL Borne, a. cit].- zen oi the United States of Amerlca, and

- resident of Green Bay, in the county of Brown and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Clutch-Operating Mechanism, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification.

The invention relates to clutch-operating mechanism.

In many forms of mechanism there are clutches to be operated which in certain applications involve a greater degree of muscular efiort than the average man is capable of without undue lstigue. Thus,

' in some forms of machinery, particularly hoisting and excavating, it has been rather common practice to use steam or sir cylinders for the performance of'these operations, the operators muscular 'efiorts then being reduced to the light duty oi? opemng and closing a suitable valve which in turn controls the ingress'to and egress from the cylinder of the steam or air. s

The use of fluid-pressure-operated means has certain objections among which may be mentioned the relatively high cost, "a j certain lack of reliability due to the possibility of freezing in cold smother, and the trouble of maintenance incident to the complication control there is little or no relation between,

the oosition of the operators lover or pedal or the intensity oi. mueenlsr applies! to it. end the position of thedevice moved hr the fluid control or the intensity with which such device is actuated.

"it is tliesihiect of this invention to sup? ply s. mcclnmicnl means for the adequate reduction of muscular eli'ort for many forms oi machine operation and to do so with a minimum of cost and mechsnical complies tion.

It is a further ohject-of this invention to insure that the intensity of the elfective as. the

effort delivered by the machinery will he in proportion to the intensity of the Inusculsr effort applied.

The invention further consists in the several features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

' In the drawings: Fig. l is a. vertical sectional View through mechanism embodying the invention, with parts shown in full;

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional View takenon the line 22 of Fig. 1.;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation view of parts shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a modification thereof.

Fig. 5 is an end view of parts shown in Fig. 4; 7

Fine 6 is a section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a section taken on the broken line 'l"-7 of Fig. 5. Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 4 of the drawinns, the numeral 8 designates a powerdriven shaft journalled on supporting hear ings 9 and driven by any suitable sourceof power (not shown) through a gear 10 keyed to said shaft: A drum 11, illustrative of a device to be driven',.is loosely mounted on said'shaft and sdeoted to be connected thereto by a main clutch mechanism.

The main clutch mechanism herein shown is of the contracting band type including a suitably lined friction band 12 engageeble with a clutch surface 13 on the drum and revolving "with said shaft. A clutch spider or sunport 14 is keyed to the shaft 8 and has the end 15 of the hand '12 anchored thereto while the other end 16 of said band has an adjustable T-holt connection 17 with one end'of a clutch lever 18. This clutch lever 18 is pivotslly mounted intermediate its ends upon s pin 19 carried by a part of the support. The other end of the lever it;

loses pin portion 2i carrying; a roller 22 24 is pivotallv connected bv an, pin 25 with the free end of another toggle lever 26 which is here shown in the form of a yoke straddlingthe shaft 8 and having; its arms 27 connected by a frame member 28 and pivotall ally mounted, on a pin 29 carried in ears 30 on the support 14, said arms having slots 31 therein receiving the reduced ends of shifter bar 32 which works in a slot 33 in the shaft 8 and passes through a slot Min :1 shifter rod 35 which is slidably mounted in an axial. bore 36 in the shaft 8 and extends .outthrough one end of the shaft and has a collar 37 loosely mounted on it providedzwith friction band s2.

projecting pins 38 engaged by the forlrcdends of a bell crank lever 39 which is pivot ally mounted intermediate its ends on apin 40 supported on a fixed part of the machine.

With this construction an inward movement of the shifter rod 35 and bar 32 swings the yoke 26 about its pivot pin 29 toward the dotted line position shown in Figs 1 thereby causing the lever 24 to exert an outward pressure on the ball end of the lever 18, thereby swinging the other end toward the drum and exerting a tension on the end 16 ofth band 12 to bring the same into clutching engagement with the surface 13 whereby said drum will be driven by 'the shaft 8. The toggle levers are so arranged that when the bar 32 is moved inwardly to the limit the pin 25 moves to a point where it is just beyond a straight line between the center. of the ball and the center of the pin 29, that is, the leverage connections are tog gled or by center so that the clutch is held in engagement with the drum without further application of longitudinal pressure upon the shifter rod.

To release the clutch all that is necessary is to retract the shifter rod until the center pin 25 is once more slightly-to the left of the dead center line of the toggle levers, whereupon the tension in the band will retract the live end of the band sufliciently to eilect release.

lVith heavy duty machinery the work of I operating the main clutch mechanism puts a heavy duty u on the operator and to relieve him or ma e the operation of the main clutch a comparatively light duty, I have provided a servo-clutch mechanism under the control of the operator.

In Figs. 1 and 3 I show this servo-clutch mechanism as including a friction member or drum 4]. keyed to the shaft 8 and adapted to be engaged by a suitably lined servo- The looped end 4-3 of this band has the head of a T-bolt 44 mounted therein and this bolt is adjustably connected to an anchor pin 45' carried in the arm of a manually-operated rocker lever l6 loose on a shaft 47 journalled infbearings 48 on a fixed part of the machine. "The other end of the lever 46 is operatiyely con- Jnected'by a link 29 and its pins 50 and 51 to the operatorslever 52, here shown as pivotally mounted at its lower end upon a pin 53 carried in a fixed bracket 54. The

other end 55 of the band is slotted to allow free movement of the bolt 44 and is con nected by a pin 56 to a lever arm .57 keyed to the shaft 47. A lever arm 58 is also keyed to the shaft 47 and forms with the arm 57 10 and said shaft a bell crank lever which is connected by a link 59 and its pins 60 and v .61 to the lever 39. The rocker lever 46 has a laterally projecting lug (32 arranged to legister with a screw 63 adjustably mounted 76 in a lug 64- on the arm 57.

The operation of the servo-clutch mechanism above described is as follows: The machine being in operation, drum 41 is turning in the direction of the arrow. When 30 the operator desires to throw in the main clutch he places tension on the 43'0f the band 42 by swinging the operating lever 52 toward the right and with it the lever 46.

In accordance with the well-known law which defines the relation between the tensions in a friction band having relative motion with its drum. the tension in the e'nd 56 of said band will be substantially greater than that applied at 43. This greater tension is used as a force. to swing the bell crank members 57, 47 and 58 so as to push the link or reach-rod 59 upwardly, causing an inward shifting of the rod 35and a consequent application. of the clutch band 12 in the manner previously described.

By means of adjusting screw 63 a suitable gap is maintained between the projecting lug 62 and said screw when the arts are in a fully engaged position, which allows a slackening of the band 42 by a reverse swing of the lever 52 by the operator before the lug 62 strikes the screw 63. By this provision the increase of eliort necessary to start disengagement is avoided. which might be the case if the actual disengagement were required to start while the tension in the ends 4-3 and 56 of the-band still had substantial values. Tension in the friction band 42 having been reduced substantially to zero, further motion by the operator of link 49 toward. the left causes the lug G2 to strike the screw 63 and move the same together with thebell crank lever associated with it so as to give a positive pull on the link 59 in a downward direction, thereby moving the rod.35 outwardly and releasing the main clutch mechanism. In those cases where the main clutch mechanism is provided with its own release, the positive release above described may not be necessary.

In Figs. 4 to 7, inclusive, Ishow the servoclutch mechanism as including a drum 70, driven from the'shait 8. as by mounting it on a shaft 71' journalled in bearings 72 and x carrying a gear 73 meshing with-"the gear 10, said drum coacting with a suitably lined servo-friction band 74-. ()no end 75 of this band is connected to spin 76 mounted on a rocker lever 77 loose on ashaft '78 7 scrapes supported in stumble bearings 79 on the frame of the machine, and said lever is op-" bolt 88 with the end 89 of the band 74; other arm of the lever 86 is operatively co fi nected by a link 90 and itspins 92am! 2" to the lever 39. The lever 77 base laterally projecting log 93 arranged to register wit a screw 94 adjustably mounted in lug 95 up the arm of the lever 86 carrying the pin 8 7 With this construction when the machine isrunning: the drum mus-turned in the di rcction (if-the arrow. 'Whcn the operator desires to throw in the main clutch he places tension on the end '35 of the band 74 b swinging .theoperating lever 83 toward the right and with it the lever 77.

in accordance with'the well'known law which defines the relation between the'tcnsions in the ends of a friction band having relative motion with its drum, the tension in the end 89 of said band'will be substantially greater than that applied at 75. This greater tension is transmitted through the T-bolt 88 and anchor pin 87 to the bell crank 86 and thence to the link or reach-rod 90 which is now pushed upward causing an inward shifting of the rod 35 and a come quent application of the clutch band 12 in the'manner previously described.

By means of adjusting screw 94 a suitable gap is maintained between the projecting lug 88 and said screw when the parts are 'in a fully engaged position, which allows a slackening of the band 74 by a reverse v swing of the handle 83 by the operatorbefore lug 88 strikes the screw 94. By this provision the increase of, effortnecessary to start disengagement is avoided, which might be the case if the actual disengagement were re uire-d to start while the tension in the en s 75 and 89 of the band 74 still had substantial values. Tension in the friction band is having been reduced substantially to zero, further motion by the operator of rocker lever 7? in a counterclockwise direction causes lug 88 to strike the screw 94 and more the same'with the bell crank lever 86 in a counterclockwise direction, thus giving the reach-rod or link 90 a positive pull in a downward direction and releasing the main clutch mechanism from engagement. In those cases where the main clutch mechanism is provided with its own release, the positive release above described may not be necessary. v I

It has been previously pointed out that the clutch mechanism herein described is of the self-holdingtype, that is, when once engaged it remains in engagement indefinitely without continued application of rcssurc on the part of the operator. It is, 0 course, obvious that'with the servo-mechanism herein described, continued application of pressure on part of the operator isun'necessary for itinucd engagement of the clutch after the main clutch-operating mechanism is past dead center. Therefore, after engagement of the main'clutchis completed is the operator, by giving a slight push in thedirection'of release, will effect a loosening of the siwo-friotion band to avoid friction and heating and wear which might otherwise rsulhond such a loosening may be continued until lug 62 just contacts with screw 63 or lug 93 comes into contact with screw 94 and thus these abutmeuts cooperate to provide a feelcr or indication to the operator that the servo-friction band is released.

Instead of the operator ushing slightly to release the servo-band a ter engagement of the-main clutch has been effected, a 5 ring or weight may be used to effect this re ease, and in Fig. 5 I show for this purpose an arm 96 at the lower end of the lever 83 hav ing a weight 97 adjustably mounted thereon for effecting the release of the servo-band with respect to the drum but the-force exv erted by the weight of these parts ismot great enough to effect continued 0 e'ration of the mechanism in the direction 0 release after lug 93 has come intocontact with the screw 94. It will,therefore, be understood that with a self-holding main clutch mecha loo nism provision has been made for effecting,

or to effect, the release of the servo-friction band-without disengaging the main clutch mechanism, v

From the foregoing description it will 1 be noted that I have provided a servo-clutch mechanism under the control of the o erator and operatively connected to the, s ifting member of the main clutch mechanism for actuating the same, and since the force imparted to the link which connects the shift mg rod 35 with the servo mechanism is proportional to the force applied by the operator to the servo-friction band, the power imparted to the main clutch mechanism will be in proportion'to the force applied by the operator but greatly increased thereover so that the operator is not subjected to undue exertion in operating the clutch.

I desire it to be understood thtt this'in- 2 vention is not to be limited to anysp'ccific form or arrangement of parts except in so 'far as such limitations are specified in the" claims 1 What I claim as m invention is: T

In a machine. tie combination with a.

power-driven shaft and amember to be said shaft including a clutch member and'itg mounting continuously revolving with said shaft, clutch-shifting means for said main. clutch mechanism, servo-friction clutch mechanism including a continuously rotatin; drum, and a friction band coactin with said drum and operatively connects ith said clutch-shifting means for transmitting the force impressed upon it, augmented by the force it receives from said drum, to said clutch-shitting means.

2-. In a. machine, the combination with a power-driven shaft and a member to be driven thereby, of a main clutch mechanism for drivingly connecting said member with said shaft, clutclrshifting means for'said main clutch mechanism, servo-friction clutch mechanism including a continuouslyrotatino drum, a friction hand coacting with said drum and operatively connected with said clutch-shifting means for transmitting the l'orce impressed upon it, augmented by the force it. receives from said drum, to said clutch-shifting means, and means actuated by the operator and operable upon the release of said band to positively actuate said clutchshifting means to release the main clutch.

3. In a machine the combination with a power-driven shaft and a member to be driven thereby, of a main clutch mechanism for drivingly connecting said member'with said shaft including a clutch member and its mounting continuously revolving with said she-ft, main clutch-shifting means and operating means including a continuously rotating drunr a friction band coacting with said drum, an operatoccontrolled lever-connected with one end of said band, and means connected with the other end oil said band and with. the clutch-shifting means of the main clutch mechanism for transmittin the force received by said band from said drum to said clutch-shitting means.

i. in a machine the combination with a power-driven shaft and a member to be driven tlrereby a. main clutch mechanism for drivingly connecting said member with said shaft, m i clutclrshifting means and operating incansincluding a drum conti'nujoosly driven by said'shaft, a friction band reacting with said. drum, an operator controlled lever connected with one end of said band, a lever connected with the other end of said band and with the clutclrshifting means of the main clutch nicchanisn'i for transmiiting the force received by said band from said drum to. said clutch-shifting means, and a connection between said levers operable on the reverse movement, of the operator-controllcd lever to move the secondmentioncd lever for positive actuation of said clutclrshi ftinggz neans.

In a machine servo mechanisn'i for clutches, comprising; the combination of a continuously rotating drum, a friction band nmaeea associated therewith, an operator-controlledclutch-shifting means connected to the lastnamed lever and actuated thereby, said levers having abutmcntscngageable on a reverse movement of the operator-controlled lever for positively actuating said clutch-shitting means after the release of said band from said drum.

GflIn a machine, servo mechanism for clutches, comprising the combination of av continuously rotating drum, a friction band associated therewith, an operator-controlledand-opcrated lover connected with one end of the band a lever connected with the other end of the band and transmittin force received by said band fron'i the (1111111., and clutch-shifting means connected to said lastnamed lever and actuated thereby, said levers having abutments engagcable on a reverse movement of the operator-controlled lever for positively actuating said clutch-shifting means after the releaseol': said band from said drum, one of said abutments having an adjustable part to engage the other abutment for -the positive actuation of said clutchshifting means upon the release of said band from said drum.

7. In a machine, the combination with a power-driven shaft and a member to be driven thereby and loosely mounted thereon, of a mam clutch mechanism for drivingly connecting said member with said shaft, clutch-shifting means for said main clutch mechanism,,' servo-friction clutch mechanism including a continuously rotating drum. mounted on and driven by said shaft, and a friction band coactin'g with said drum and operatively connected with said clutch-shifting means for transmitting the force impressed upon it, ai 'mented by the -force it receives from said drum, to said clutch-shifting means and manually operable means to apply and release said band and positively actuate said clutch-shifting means for the main clutch mechanisiia to release said main clutchmechanism.

S. In a machine, the combination with a poiver driven shaft and a member to be driven thereby and loosely mounted thereon, of a main friction band tyne clutch mechanism for dr'ivinglyconnecting said member 129 to saidslia l, clutch-shifting; means including'afishi'iting member coaxial, with said shaft and extending beyond the same and a lcve'c for operating said shifting member,

tween said band and said lever for transmitting the force received by said band from the drum to said lever to operate said clutchservo-friction clutch mechanism including a 12 i grossed noon it, augmented by the fone i re ives from said drum, to said Cil'lhd' ch15; means, and manually-opera e or operaiingx mining; of the r J i disengagement oi me main clutch mechanism.

,10. in a machine, the combination with a power-driven shaft and a member to he i *iven thereby, of a main clutch mechanism of ihe sew-holding type for drivingiy connecting said n en'iher 'Wiiii said shaft ciutchshifting means main clutch mechanisi'n, ser'vodrietion cintch nicchanisn'l including continuously rotating drum friciion hood coasting; with said drum and oplively connecied with said cintcinshiitiioeans for transmitting the force iniprcssed open i', augmented .by the fierce iii receives fro. 1 said drum, to said. ciutc i-shiftring: :coeans, ineri naiiyoperahie means for on H friction hand, and means to said c said :Eioni 7e engage L menu with said drum JViiJilOflt releasing said main cintch mechanisi'n.

in a mach 1E,'hi1i5 combination with a oo'werdriven shaft and a member to he driven ihereby, oi? a main clutch niechanisn'i he seiifrhoiding type for drivingiy connec bing; said member "with said shaft, ciutchcing means for said main clutch inecha' nisnn nerve-friction clutch mechanism incinding a continuously rotating drum. a friciion-hand coacting wiih said drum end. on erativeiy connected with said dutch-shifting; means for izransmiizting the force iniprcsscd "upon it, augmented by the force it receives from said drum to said Ciiltcinshifb ing means. and mannaily operahie means for opeiaixing' said friction-hand and permitting oi the re'iease of said hand Without disengagement of he main clutch mechanism and thereafter effecting a positive re lease of said main clutch mechanism.

in a machine, servo mechanism for seid friction hand a.

clu ches comprising the combination of a.

ose o i said band with continuously rotating drum, a fIiCtiO1"l-bi1l1(i associated therewith, an operatoncon[roiledand-operated lever conneci'ed with one end of the hand, clutch-shifting means, means connecting; the other end of the band with said clutch-shifting means to transmit power received by said hand from the drum to said clutch-shifting means, said lever upon its reiease movement having a lost-motion connection with said last-named means perinitting the reiease of Said hand without actuating said clutch-shifting means.

13. in a machine, servo mechanism for chd'chcs comprising the con'ihination of a continuously rotating; drum, a friction-hand skesociated therewith, an operaior-controiiedtndoporaicd lever connected With one end.

oi" the band, a iever connected with the oiherend of the band and transmitting; force received. by said hand from the drum clutch-shifting means connected to said lastnanied lever and actuated thereby, said icvers having; a 1ost-1notion connection permitting of a positive release of said hand by said first-named'ieVer and subsequent positive movement of said second-named lever to cause a release moven'icnt of said cintchshifting means.

lei. In a machine, servo mechanism for clutches comprising the combination of a continuously rotating drum, a friction-band associated therewith, an oporatorcontrolledand-operated ineans "for applying and reieasing" hand, clutch-shifting means, means operativeiy connecting said. band with said cintch-shif'ting means to transmit power received by said hand from said drum to said chi-tch-shif'uing means, end means associated with said operasor-controlled. means for moving said cirdgeh-shiitin means to positively release said main ciuich mechanisn'i.

in. a machine, the combination with a power-driven. sa a a member to he driven iihereh' a main ciutch mechanism ior di'ivi 'y connecting said member with. said shaft inchidin a hand and mounting; continuously revo vino; "with said shaft, ciotchshifcing means for said main clutch mechanism, servo-friction clutch mechanism including a continuously rotating drum and a friction hand coaching}; with said drum and operativeiy connected with said clutch shiftin means for 'transiniitin the force It) Z) 

